喫緊・吃緊|きっきんkikkin[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
喫緊喫緊 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; it is written entirely in kanji.
吃緊吃緊 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 喫緊; beginners should choose 喫緊 instead.
Definitions
- no-adjective, na-adjectiveurgent; pressing; exigent
Conjugation
| Plain form | 喫緊（きっきん） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 喫緊です（きっきんです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 喫緊ではない（きっきんではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 喫緊ではありません（きっきんではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 喫緊だった（きっきんだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 喫緊ではなかった（きっきんではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 喫緊で（きっきんで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 喫緊に（きっきんに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 喫緊なら（きっきんなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym緊急きんきゅうNeutralThe everyday, neutral word for urgency; stresses a critical situation that brooks no delay, as in 「緊急事態」. Common in speech and announcements, unlike the written 「喫緊」.
- Synonym早急そうきゅうNeutralEmphasizes speed: getting something done at once. Often adverbial, as in 「早急に対応する」. Neutral register; about acting fast, whereas 「喫緊」 describes the matter as pressing.
- Synonym火急かきゅうWrittenWritten word for extreme urgency; common in 「火急の用」「火急の事」. Stiffer than 「緊急」 and rarely heard in everyday speech.
- Synonym緊切きんせつWrittenWritten register and very rare; conveys keen, pressing urgency. Almost never used in modern Japanese.
- Synonym急迫したきゅうはくしたNeutralEmphasizes time pressure: something on the verge of happening, with no time to spare, as in 「急迫した事態」. Neutral register.
Everyday Japanese uses 「緊急」 or 「至急」; when something must be handled promptly, use 「早急」. In writing, 「喫緊」 suits important matters demanding immediate action, as in 「喫緊の課題」. 「火急」 and 「緊切」 are bookish and rare in everyday use.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- 差し迫っていて大切であること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
